FREE ESSAY ON FEMINISM

FEMINISM

What is feminism? By general definition, feminism is a philosophy in which women and their
contributions are valued. It is based on social, political and economical equality for
women. Feminists can be anyone in the population, men, women, girl or boys. Feminism can
also be described as a movement. A revolution that includes women and men who wish the
world to be equal without boundaries. These boundaries or blockades are better known as
discrimination and biases against gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status and
economic status. 
Everyone views the world with his or her own sense of gender and equality. Feminists view
the world as being unequal. They wish to see the gender gap and the idea that men are
superior to women decreased or even abolished. Carol Gilligan is one woman who has
contributed much time and effort to the feminist theory. Her beliefs and ideas are based
upon difference feminism. In this essay I will tie the ideas and beliefs of Carol
Gilligan with information from our text, the packet read in class and the book, Faces of
Feminism. 
Carol Gilligan is a lecturer and assistant professor at Harvard University as well as a
psychologist. She has many theories that deal with moral reasoning and development. In
her influential book In a Different Voice, she sets forth the idea that women make
decisions "according to a criteria of ethics of care and that men make decisions
according to an ethic of rights."(3) In her book, Carol Gilligan also disagrees with
Lawrence Kohlbergs' theory, which suggests that "Few people matured fully in their moral
reasoning...but women hardly ever did."(2) In her opposition Gilligan stated that "women
make moral decisions according to different but equally mature and morally upright
reasoning."(2) She feels that women are different because they posses a different
hereditary set of values and beliefs. This opposition to Kohlberg's theory was backed by
research. Even though there was research done to support Gilligan, it seemed to have
experimenter bias. It was not an open or strong experiment and it only observed the
actions of the white middle class. This did not give a clear or objective view on the
separate criteria of women and men. The views and ideas on moral reasoning and
development set forth by Carol Gilligan are those of many difference feminists.
Difference feminism is just one type of feminism. It gives a concept that "women should
go back to traditional roles"(3) set by society. It also states that gender is natural
and is not learned by the society in which one lives. Not all Feminists agree with this
theory but there are many feminists, such as Carol Gilligan who agree with this idea that
even though men and women are different, they each have their own separate place in
society. Difference feminism is "successful because it tells people what they want to
hear: women really are different in just the ways that we always thought. ... And men
have power, wealth and control of social resources because women do not really want
them."(3) This idea of difference feminism sets forth a number of stereotypes. They give
feminists and the general public a skewed view of the theory behind the philosophy. 
In the book Faces of Feminism, feminist theorists were asked, "Do women have to be the
same as men to be equal?"(1) The majority of responses were yes. It is believed that in
order for women and men to become equal, society must "unlearn and uncondition"(1) the
gender roles and standards it has established throughout history. Society and the people
in it have set up the basis for gender difference and now many feminists are breaking
down those barriers. 
Carol Gilligans' position on moral development and her views as a feminist, suggest that
"women's nature is not something to be replaced, but something to be maintained, indeed
celebrated, for the sake both of women and society."(1) This view is tied in with the
general definition of feminism, that women should be valued for their accomplishments.
Womanhood is important and should be celebrated and praised. On that same note, maleness
must also be celebrated and praised.
Throughout history men have dominated our culture and now through the work of feminists
such as Carol Gilligan, the roles are beginning to shift. There are more women in the
workplace and more men staying at home. This idea of gender reversal goes against parts
of the difference feminist theory. 
Bibliography
Tobias, Shelia. Faces of Feminism. Westview Press, Colo 1997.
Katha Pollitt. 'Are women morally superior to men?" 1992.